Assembly machine for the automatic production of structural elements for false ceilings

ABSTRACT

An assembly machine forms structural elements for false ceilings. Structural elements are cut to size and sent to two series of lateral stations. A press forms inserts which are applied to the ends of the structural elements.

This invention relates to an assembly machine for the automaticproduction of structural elements for false ceilings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Structural elements for false ceilings are known, consisting of profilebars of inverted T-shape provided at their ends with hooks formed eitherdirectly from the central web of the T profile bar or from inserts whichare formed separately for application to each profile during itsproduction.

Said profile bars are connected together to form a lattice structurewhich by means of steel ties or cables is generally suspended at its topfrom the ceiling, their horizontal flanges lowerly supporting panels,staves and anything else required to form the false ceiling.

Such structural elements are currently formed using single-die presses,ie presses comprising a die of dimensions corresponding to the length ofthe profile bar to be formed, which is housed within the press and onwhich the various operations are carried out, possibly in a single stepbut more generally in several steps, and always within the actual die inwhich the bar is positioned. Said die is provided with a plurality ofpunches which are operated in sequence to effect on the bar suchoperations as perforating; drawing, crimping, etc.

These known single-die presses have however certain drawbacks, namely:

-   -   poor flexibility in that for each size (length) of profile bar        the press requires a particular die which has to be changed each        time the profile bar is to be modified or following any change        in dimensions or type of operation,    -   they require a large number of different dies depending on the        type of hook, the length of the profile bars and the type of        operation to be carried out,    -   they immobilize capital,    -   they occupy considerable storage space.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

-   -   An object of the invention is to eliminate these drawbacks by        providing an assembly machine in which profile bars of different        dimensions and different hook types can be worked.

This object and further ones which result from the ensuing descriptionare attained through an assembly machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in detailhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, on which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the assembly machine of the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a cross-section there through on the line II-II of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen from the figures, the assembly machine of the inventioncomprises a conveyor belt 2 provided downstream of a floating cutter 4positioned at the exit of a forming machine 6.

At the downstream end of said conveyor belt there are provided twopushers 8 which move axially perpendicular to the axis of the belt 2.

Again at the downstream end of said belt there are provided two conveyorstraps 10 which are inclined slightly downwards and feed a steppingdevice indicated overall by 12.

The stepping device comprises a pair of parallel chains 14, 14′ mountedrespectively on two shoulders 16, 16′, one 16′ of which is movablerelative to the other shoulder 16 via a guide system 18 and manuallyoperable recirculating ball sliders 20.

Three pairs of dies 22, 24, 26 are mounted on the shoulders 16, 16′ andare each operated by a corresponding hydraulic cylinder 28.

With the shoulder 16′ there is associated a bellows screen 30 able tocover the distance between the operating face of the dies and the lefthand ends of the die bench following the movement of the shoulder 16′.

At the pair of dies 26, the machine of the invention also comprisesmovable transverse stations 32 positionable on the central part of theprofile bar to be worked, and in particular on its vertical web.

A reel 34 about which steel strip 35 passes is provided to the side ofthe intermediate pair of dies.

The machine of the invention operates in the following manner: afteradjusting the distance between the shoulders 16, 16′ to adapt them tothe length of the profile bars 38 to be worked, these profile bars,leaving the forming machine 6 already of T shape an cut by the floatingcutter 4, are made to advance along the conveyor 2 until they encountera limit switch 42, at which the pushers 8 transfer them onto theconveyor 10 such that they lie substantially on their side, ie withtheir web, vertical when installed, now lying horizontal because of thefact that the subsequent operations are performed mainly on this web.

The conveyor 10 transfers the profile bars stepwise to the device 12,which with its pair of chains 14, 14′ grips each profile bar positionedtransversely between the chains, raises it and advances it transverselybetween through a certain distance, to then lower it. The pitch of thestepping movement, ie the distance between two successive positions ofeach profile bar, is equal to the distance between the diescorresponding to the two working stations, and the rate of advancementof the stepping device is equal to the rate at which the pairs of diesof the two stations are operated.

At the pair of dies 24, inserts formed by,a press 36 acting on the strip35 unwound from the reel 34 are applied to the ends of the profile bar.

Alternatively, the inserts are joined together to form a tape from whichthey are separated, to be applied to the ends of the bar portions.

In other cases in which it is not intended to apply such inserts, thepair of dies 24 punches the ends of the profile bars to formcorresponding hooks.

When the profile bars arrive at the pairs of dies 26, the transversestations 32 operate to form in the central region of the bar eitherholes for suspending it from the overlying ceiling, or apertures to behooked by hooks provided on the other bars.

The positioning of these stations depends on the length of the bar to beworked and on the type of operation to be effected.

When these operations have been carried out the profile bars 38 arepositioned on a conveyor belt 40 to be fed to discharge.

1. A machine for the automatic production of inverted T-shapedstructural elements for false ceilings, comprising: a stepping feederfor the T-shaped structural elements cut to size, two series of lateralstations interfering with ends of said structural elements fedtransversely by said stepping feeder, and a plurality of dies providedin the different stations to subject the ends of said structuralelements to a required operation, the position of a least one of theseries of stations being adjustable relative to the other, such that atleast one station is a station for applying inserts to the ends of saidT-shaped structural elements, a press forming said inserts by acting ona strip unwound from a reel, said press being provided upstream of saidstation applying said inserts.
 2. A machine as claimed in claim 1,wherein at least one of the series of stations is mounted on a shoulderwhich is adjustable relative to another shoulder supporting the otherseries of stations by a guide system and a manually operablerecirculating ball slide.
 3. A machine as claimed in claim 1, comprisinga pair of transverse stations as the most downstream stations, saidtransverse stations being movable and positionable on the structuralelements to effect operations on a central part of a vertical web of thestructural elements.
 4. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein saidtransverse stations are positionable in the length direction of thestructural elements.
 5. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein eachdie is operated by a hydraulic cylinder.